Machine for building sewers



M. R. SHEEN.

MACHINE FOR BUILDING SE-WERS.

APPLICATION FlLED. SEPT.Z, 1916- .31. 53% 1 9 11 37 Pammed Aug. 331,, 192m 6 SHEET$SHEET 7v 0 LI- m U. 1 1 d,

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MACHINE FOR BUILDING SEWERS;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, L916.

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M. R. SHEEN.

MACHINE FOR BUILDING SEWE'RSA APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. 1-916.

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M. R. SHEEN.

MACHINE FOR BUILDING SEWERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1; 1916.

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M. R. SHEEN.

MACHINE FOR BUILDING SEWERS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. 1916.

Patented; Aug. 31, mm.

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MACHINE FOR BUILDING SEWERS. APPLICATION FiLED SEPT. 7, I916.

Patented Aug. 31, 19%

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0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 TUNNEL MACHINE MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, FENNSYLVANIA, A COOJRATION OF DELAWARE.

MAGHINE FOR BUILDING SEWERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 192@.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON ROY SHEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Building Sewers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for building sewers, tunnels and the like, and the object of my invention is to construct a machine by which the excavation for the tunnel or sewer is made by the machine; the brick sewer construction is formed by the machine and a concrete or cement casing is formed I around the outside of the brick construction.

In carrying out my invention I employ a circular casing equal in diameter to the sewer which is to be built. Rotary cutting blades are mounted on the forward end of the easing to make the necessary excavation. An inner casing, of smaller diameter, is also provided, around the outside of which casing the bricks are laid'to form the sewer. The bricks are fed into the center of the machine and dropped into a rotary conveyer which properly places them around the inner casing and a rotary cam or helix presses the bricks into place. The rotation of said cam or helix presses against the brick construction and moves the machine forward as the brick work advances.

Cement or concrete is forced around the outside of the brick structure to fill the space between the brick structure and the walls of the excavation for the purpose of making the sewer water-proof. Various other novel features of construction and arrangements of the parts are used in carrying out my invention which will be hereafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings; Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine; Fig. 2, is a view in elevation of the front end of the machine, drawn on a reduced scale; Fig. 3, is a transverse section on line 3--3 Fig. 1; Fig. 4, is a vertical longitudinal section, similar to Fig. 1, showing only thecam or helix and the gear ring for driving the same; Fig. 5, is a section on line 5--5 Fig. 4; Fig. 6, 1s a diagrammatic view, drawn on a reduced scale, tributes the cement around the structure.

showing the cain or helix, as it would appear if spread out on a flat surface; Fig. '5, is a transverse section on line 7-7 Fig. 1; Fig. 8, is a perspective view of a portion of the rotary brick conveyer; Fig. 9, is a perspective view of a portion of thecam or helix;

F 10, is a transverse section on line 1010 Fig. 1; F g. 11, is a transverse section on line 11-11 F 1g. 1; Fig. 12, is a transverse section on line 12-12 Fig. 1; Fig. 13, is a transverse section on line 13-13 Fig. 1; Fig. 14, is a longitudinal, horizontal section on line Pie-14; Fig. 2; Fig. 15 is a transverse section on line 15-15 Fig. 14; and Fig. 16, is a transverse section on line 1616 Fig. 14.

In the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts, 1 represents the outer cylindrical casing, 2 is the forward bearing member secured to the casing. A bearing 3 is secured within the casing 1 and located in the center of the length of the casing. The bearings 2 and 3 are braced and rigidly secured together by the I-beams 6. Rotatably mounted in the bearing member 2, is a collar 7, carrying arms 8 0n which are mounted the cutting blades 9 and 10, and buckets 12 are carried by the arms 8, for lifting the dirt into the hopper 13, which directs the dirt into the conveyer buckets 15 carried by the endless chain 16, running to the rear end of the machine or the end of the sewer.

Thesaid collar 7 is rotated by the pinion 17, which meshes with gear teeth 18, upon the collar 7. The pinion 17 may be driven by a motor 19 or any other suitable means.

The conveyer buckets 15 upon the endless chain 16, which remove the dirt, are utilized to convey the bricks 20 into the machine. The bricks are placed edgewise upon the conveyer buckets, (see Fig. 3), and are removed from the buckets 15 by a curved guide bar 22, which causes the bricks to drop upon the stationary housing or guide ring 24., secured upon the I-beams 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The conveyer chain 11 is also provided with buckets 25, for conveying cement into the machine. The cement buckets 25 are inverted at the proper time by the cam.

The rotary cement carrier 30 stops after making one revolution and the cement is forced rearwardly from the cement boxes 28 by the plungers 31, see Fig. 1.

The stationary guide ring 24 is made hollow to receive the rotating parts of the brick laying mechanism. The rear portion of the guide ring 24 (as shown in Fig. 1.), has secured thereto the inner casing 33, which extends back of the machine a short distance to provide a support for the cylindrical brick structure.

The forward portion of the guide ring 24 forms a transverse wall 34, having a rearwardly projecting annular flange 35 to which is secured a cylindrical shell 36 which forms the outer wall of the cylindrical chamber in which the bricks are laid.

Within the guide ring 24 are rotatably mounted the cam or helix 38 and the rotary brick conveyer 40. Anti-friction rollers 41 are provided between the movable parts to reduce the friction.

The cylindrical portion 42, of the helix forms the inner surface of the chamber in which the bricks are laid.

The guide ring 24 has an opening 29 formed therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, through which the bricks are fed into the rotary brick conveyer 40, which is provided with a pocket 44 to receive one brick, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

The rotary brick conveyer 40 is rotated continuously by pinions 45 and 46 which engage the gear teeth 47 formed on the rotary conveyer 40. The pinions 45 and 46 are mounted upon the shafts 48 and 49, located diametrically opposite to each other, as shown in Fig. 7. The said shafts 48 and 49 are driven by the motors 50 and 51 through sprocket chains 52, shown in Fig. 12.

The helix 38 is rotated intermittently by a circular gear ring 54 to which the helix may be looked, as hereinafter described. The gear ring 54 is driven by pinions 55 and 56 upon the shafts 57 and 58, as shown in Fig. 7. Said shafts 5'7 and 58 are also driven by the motors 50 and 51.

The helix 38 has an opening 60, formed therein through which the brick passes from the rotary conveyer 40. The brick is moved around the chamber in which the rotary conveyer 40 is mounted, by a hinged plate 62. \Vhen the brick strikesthe stops 63 and 64 upon the helix 38, (see Fig. 9.), the hinged plate 62- swings against the action of a spring 65 and the cam surface 67 of the rotary conveyer 4O pushes the brick through the opening 60 formed in the cylindricalpart 42 of the helix 38.

The rotary brick conveyer 40 is provided ivith annular grooves'68 which permit the stops 63 and 64 upon the helix 38 to revolve freialy within the conveyer 40, see Figs. 8 an 9.

The helix 38 is provided with a hinged plate 70, normally held in a position to be operated by a brick as it is forced through the opening 60 in the helix 38. The hinged plate 70, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 9, is mounted upon a shaft 71, having a bevel gear 72 thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 73, on a shaft 74 carrying an eccentric cam 7 5,

which latter operates a dog 76, which is adapted to engage teeth 78 formed in the periphery of the gear ring 54, as shown in Fig. 7, and lock the helix 38 and the gear ring 54 together and cause the helix to rotate until the hinged plate 70, upon the helix, is free from the brick and returned to its normal position by the spring 77, which causes the helix to stop and remain stationary until another brick is inserted through the opening 60 in the helix.

A form 80 is used against which to lay the first course of bricks, to start the building of the sewer by the machine. The form 80 is cylindrical and the forward face is made in the form of a spiral cam, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so that the high part 81 of the cam face is one half the length of a brick in advance of the low part 82.

The form 80 presents alternate spaces and v projections around the circumference thereof, each space and each projection being equal in width to one brick. The helix 38 therefore,moves, in each operation,the width of a space and a brick, or in other words the width of two bricks. This movement of the helix is accomplished by providing an ex- The helix 38 is constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, with a cam surface upon its rearward, Vertical face. The contour of the cam surface of the helix 38 is similar to the contour of the forward face of the starting form 80. The high part 86 of the spiral cam face of the helix 38 is one half the length of a brick in advance of the low part 87 of the cam. At a point in the cam surface of the helix 38, adjacent to the opening 60 in the helix for the insertion of a brick, .there is a still lower place 88, in the cam surface, as shown in Fig. 6, this is to make room for the free entrance of a brick.

Anti-friction carriages 90 are provided to relieve the friction between the face of the brick structure and the face of the cam of the helix 38. Said carriages 90 are provided with rollers 91 which permit the helix to rotate and the carriages to remain at rest against the brick structure. Each carriage groove 94 formed in the face of the cam surface of the helix 38.

The enlarged heads 93 of the projections 92- are engagedby the flanges 95, forming the edges of the groove 94 in the helix 38, and withdraw the carriages 90 from the face of the brick construction at the low part 88 of the cam or helix, this is to make room for the insertion of a brick 20 be the starting form 80, so that when poweris applied to operate the machine, the helix 38 will rotate until the hinged locking plate has passed the high point of the starting form. The plate 70 will then free itself from the starting form and assume its normal position and stop the helix at the proper place for the first brick to be inserted, which will be at the lowest point in the starting form 80. The insertion of a brick causes the helix 38 to rotate until the hinged locking plate 70 is free from the last brick laid, when the helix will stop and wait for another brick to be inserted.

The rotation of the helix 38 causes the cam surface thereof to press against the carriages 90, which in turn press against the starting forms 80, at the beginning and against the bricks 20, as they are successively laid. This pressure of the helix moves the machine forward and tightly forces the bricks into their proper places in the structure.

It will be understood from the above description that the rotary brick conveyer 40, see Fig. 3, rotates continuously, and the helix 38 rotates intermittently, moving the width of two bricks in each operation, then it stops to receive another brick. This is continued until the helix has made a revolution and the stops 63 and 64 reach a position, as shown by dot and dash lines at the lower part of Fig. 3; the said stops 63 and 64, would in this position prevent a brick from entering the pocket 44 in the rotary brick conveyer 40; to prevent this,

means are provided for the entrance of the brick into the pocket 44 in advance of the said stops 63 and 64.

A stop plate 96 is provided, (see Fig. 3,)

to ordinarily hold the bricks in a'position so that they will enter the ppcket 44 in the rotary brick conveyer 40. hen the stops 63 and 64, on the helix are in the position shown by dot and .dash lines Figi 3, the brick cannot enter the pocket 44. In this position of the helix 38 the stop plate 96 is moved into the position shown in dotted lines, so that the brick can enter the. pocket 44 in the rotary conveyer 40 when the latter has revolved sufficiently to allow the brick. to drop into the pocket 44 after passing the stops 63 and 64 upon the helix 38. The said stops and the helix remain stationary until the rotary brick conveyer 40 carries the brick around nearly a complete revolution, when the brick will strike against the forward side of the stops 63 and 64 of the helix, and the hinged plate 62 on the rotary conveyer 40 will yield and swing backward. The rotary conveyer 40 will continue to revolve and the cam surface 67 will force the brick through the opening 60 in the helix.

Figs. 1, 3 and 9 illustrate how the stop plate 96 is moved to allow the brick to enter the pocket 44 in the rotary conveyer 40 in advance of the stops 63 and 64 on the helix. The helix is provided with a rack 98, located in advance of the stops 63 and 64. The stop plate 96 is slidably mounted in bearings 99 and operated by pinions 100, engaging racks 102 on the stop plate 96. Said pinions 100 are mounted on a shaft 103, which is rotated, through bevel gears 104 and 105 by a vertical shaft 106 mounted in fixed bearings 107. The shaft'106 is provided with a pinion 109 which is engaged by the rack 98 on the helix 38,- which rack 98 rotates the pinion 109 and moves the stop plate 96 into the position, shown in dotted lines Fig. 3. As the helix 38 further rotates, a second rack 112 upon the helix engages an intermediate gear wheel 113 which rotates the vertical shaft 106 to move the stop plate 96 in the reverse direction and returns it to its normal position.

During the building of the brick work forming the sewer the machine is packing cement 115 (see Fig. 1), around the outside of the brick construction, forcing the cement into the joints between the bricks and filling a the space between the brick construction and the surface of the tunnel.

The rotary cement carrier 30 is of cylin- 1, anti-friction rollers 116 being provided to reduce the friction between the cement carriers and the outer casing and also between the inner surface of the cement carrier and the cylindrical drum 36 secured to the housing or guide ring 24.

The cement carrier 30 is provided with internal gear teeth 117 (see Fig. 10) into which meshes a gear wheel 118, secured upon a loosely mounted shaft 119. The gear wheel 118 meshes with a gear wheel 120 upon a sleeve 121 loosely mounted upon a shaft 122. The latter shaft 122 has keyed thereon a clutch sleeve 125 which engages teeth upon the end of said sleeve 121 and rotates the cement carrier 30 through the above mentioned gear-wheels.

The cement carrier 30 has openings 126 (see Fig. 10) formed therein communicating with each of the cement boxes 28. Said openings 126 are closed byl gdoors 127 hinged to the cement carrier. ach door 127 is provided with an L-shaped projection 128 located back of the hinge and said projection enters an annular groove formed in a cam ring 130, secured to the central bearing member 3. The cam ring 130 is so arranged, (as shown in Figs. 1 and 11), that it will open the doors 127 when the doors reach a point adjacent to the funnel 27, for the purpose of filling the boxes 28 in the cement carrier 30.

When the cement carrier 30 has made a complete revolution, and all the boxes 28 have been filled or partly filled with cement, the cement carrier is stopped in such a position that the boxes 28 will aline with the plungers 31 which are forced into the boxes 28 to push the cement through the boxes and around the brick construction.

The plungers 31 have heads corresponding to the interior of the cement boxes 28. There iS. one plunger for each box. Said plungers 31 are operated by pistons 132, inclosed in cylinders 133, operated by compressed air. The cylinders 133 are secured upon the inner surface of the out-er casing 1 and are provided with pipe connections 135 leading to either end of the cylinders and connected with a valve 136.

Each controlling valve 136, for the cylinders 1.33, has an operating lever 138 controlled by a circular collar 139 having cams 140 corresponding in number with the controlling valves. The high part of each cam 140 operates the valve to withdraw the plungers 31 from the cement boxes 28 to permit the latter to rotate. hen the cams 140 move from under the valve levers 138, the springs 142 shift the valve levers 138 into opposite positions to force the plungers 31 into the cement boxes 28.

The circular 'collar 139 carrying the cams 140 for operating the air valves is rotatably mounted upon an annular flange 144 secured upon the central bearing 3 of the machine.

A gear collar 145 having teeth 146 formed upon its outer surface, is loosely mounted upon the periphery of the cam collar 139. The gear collar 145 is rotated by a gear wheel 148 on the shaft 149 (see Fig. 1), which shaft is driven by another gear wheel 150, upon said shaft 149, which gear wheel 150 meshes with a gear wheel 151 loosely mounted on the shaft 122.

The last mentioned gear wheel 151 is proand 13.

vided upon the hub thereof with jaws 152 adapted to be engaged by the clutch 125. The clutch may be shifted to engage the gear wheel 151 and drive the gear collar 145, or the clutch may be shifted in the opposite direction to engage the sleeve 121 (see Fig. 1) which drives the mechanism for rotating the cement carrier 30.

The gear collar 145 is provided upon its rear face with a lug 155, shown in Figs. 1 The cam collar 139 is provided with dogs 156, which are hinged upon the cam collar 139, and correspond in number with the plunger cylinders 133. The dogs 156 are normally held out of engagement with the said lug 155 upon gear collar 145, by an annular cam 158 secured to the annular flange 144.

The "annular cam 158 has an opening 159 formed therein, as shown in Fig. 13, in which space the dogs 156 are free from the cam 158 and may be moved into the path of the lug 155 on the gear collar 145, as shown in Fig. 1, and the said lug 155 will move the cam collar 139 until the dog 156 is withdrawn by the cam 158 which will stop the cam collar 139 when it has moved sufficiently to cause the cams 140 to shift the valve 1evers 138 to withdraw the plungers 31 from the cement boxes 28.

A dog 156 upon the cam collar 139 is moved into engagement with the gear collar 145 by the action of one of the pistons 132 which operate a plunger 31. hen the .air pressure in the cylinder 133 has forced the plunger 31 entirely into the cement box 28 the piston head 134 (see Fig. 1) strikes against a pin 160 slidably mounted in the cylinder head 161. The sliding pin 160 en gages oneend of a lever 163 causing the opposite end of the lever 163 to strike one of the dogs 1556 upon the cam collar 139 and holds the dog in the path of the lug 155 on the gear collar 145 which latter will turn the cam collar 139 with it. A spring 164 acts against the lever 163 and shifts it into the normal position, when the piston 132 is again withdrawn and releases the sliding pin 160.

The gear collar 145 is provided with one cam 166, shown in Figs. 1 and 12, which engages the air valve levers 138 and operates the plungers 31 successively as the gear collar 145 rotates. This takes place when the cam collar 139 is at rest. The cams 140 on the cam collar 139 operate all the air valves simultaneously, when the cam collar is rotating.

Upon the cam collar 139 is a set of cams 170, which operate the clutch 125, as hereafter described. The clutch shaft 122 is driven continuously b the motor 50 through the sprocket chain 171, or any suit able means. The clutch sleeve 125 is keyed upon the clutch shaft 122 and is adapted to slide upon-said shaft. Said clutch sleeve 125 is provided with jaws 173 at either end and also with flanges 174 between which flanges 174 is loosely mounted a collar 175, for shifting the clutch sleeve 125. A clutch lever 176 embraces the collar 17 5, (see Figs. 1 and .12), and said clutch lever 176 is oper ated by the inner row of cams 170 upon the cam collar 139.

To permit the clutch sleeve 125 to be shifted into engagement with the gearwheel 151 when the clutch lever 176 is on the high part of the cam 170, as shown in Fig. 1, a coil-spring 177 is interposed between the flange 174 on the end of the clutch sleeve 125 and the collar 175 loosely mounted upon the clutch sleeve; this permits the clutch sleeve to be shifted by the cement carrier in the following manner; an annular cam 180, see Figs. 1 and 10, is formed upon the gear ring 117 of the cement carrier 30. The cam 180 engages a lever 181 which lever embraces the collar 182 on the sleeve 121 carrying the gear 120, which drives the cement carrier. Said last mentioned sleeve 121 has jaws on its end which engage the clutch sleeve 125 and while said jaws are in engagement with the clutch sleeve 125, to rotate the cement carrier 30, the clutch sleeve 125 may be moved into engagement with the gear 151 and drive the gear collar 145. This is done by the lever 181 being acted upon by the cam 180 on the cement carrier 30 and mcving the sleeve 121 along the shaft 122.

The cement carrier 30 and the plungers 31 operate as follows :--As shown in Figs.

1 and 12, the gear collar 145, and the cam collar 139 are at rest, but still locked together by one ofthe dogs 156; the valve levers 138 are on the high part of the cams 140, in which position the plungers 31 are all withdrawn from the cement carrier 30.

The clutch lever 176 is on the high part of a cam 170, on the cam collar 139; the

clutch sleeve 125 has been shifted by the clutch lever 176 into a position to rotate the cement carrier 30, which latter makes one revolution and allows the cement boxes to be filled from the funnel 27. The cam 180 on the cement carrier shifts the lever 181 and moves both the sleeve 121 and the clutch sleeve 125, against the action of the coil spring 177 on the clutch sleeve, which brings the clutch sleeve 125 into engagement with the gear wheel 151 and drives the gear collar 145. The cam 180 on the cement carrier now operates thelev'er 181 in the opposite direction to release the sleeve 121 from the clutch sleeve 125, this allows the cement carrier to stop rotating.

The gear collar 145 rotates, along with the cam collar 139, until the clutch lever 176,-is free from the cam 170, which permits the clutch to still remain in engagement with the gear 151 for driving the gear collar 145. This partial rotation of the gear collar 145 and the cam collar 139 also releases the valve levers 138 from the high part of the cams 140 and said valve levers to be engaged by the annular cam 158 which withdraws the dogfrom engagement with the gear collar 145, allowing the cam collar 139 to stop and the gear collar 145 to continue rotating.

The single cam 166 on the gear collar 145 (see Figs. 1 and 12) engages each valve lever successively which operates a valve to withdraw the plunger 31 and the spring 142 immediately shifts the valve to again drive the plunger 31 against the cement in the cement carrier. The gear collar 145 con tinues to revolve and operate each plunger separately until the cement has been driven through the boxes. The piston head 134 then strikes the sliding pin 160 in the head of one of the cylinders, which pin 160 operates the lever 163, which engages the dog 156 on the cam collar 139 and holds the dog in the path of the lug 155 on'the gear collar 145.

When the lug 155 on the gear collar 145 strikes the dog 156 and moves the cam collar 139 with the gear collar 145, the cams 140 on the cam collar 139 operate the valve levers 138 and shift the valves into a position to withdraw all the plungers from the cement carrier. One of the cams 170 on the cam collar 139 then strikes the clutch lever 176 and releases the clutch from the gear 151, which stops the gear collar 145, and also forces the clutch sleeve 125 into engagement with the sleeve 121 to drive the cement carrier and the latter starts upon another operation.

The outer casing 1 is provided, upon the outside thereof with oppositely disposed fin plates 185, as shown in Fig. 2. These fin plates cut into the surface of the tunnel, made by the excavating knives, and prevent the casing 1 from having any rotary motion due to the operation of the moving parts within the casing. The forward end of each, fin plate 185 isv pivoted upon the bolt 186, as shown in Figs. 14 and 16, and the rear end of the fin plate 185 is pressed outwardly from the casing by a spring 187 encircling the bolt 188 which is pivotally connected with the fin plate 185. The spring 187 perfin plate 185 may be adjusted laterally upon the threaded bolt 186 for the purpose of guiding the casing 1, as it forces its Way through the ground.

It will be understood that any form of brick, tile or building block may be used in the machine without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A machine of the character described comprising a circular casing, a structure composed of sectional blocks formed within the casing, a cam rotatably mounted within the casing adapted to press against said structure as it is formed, and means for rotating the cam to propel the casing.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a circular casing, a structure formed within the casing composed of sectional blocks, a cam rotatably mounted within the casing adapted to press'against said structure, said cam having a recess formed in the face thereof for the insertion of the blocks of which the structure is formed and means for rotating the cam to propel the casing.

3. A machine for building a stationary structure, comprising a casing, mechanism within the casing for automatically distributing building units around the interior of the casing to form the structure, and a form having a spiral face against which the said units are placed inspiral formation to form the structure.

4. A machine for building a stationary structure, comprising a casing, mechanism Within the casing for successively placing building units around the interior of the casing to form the structure, said structure having a face of spiral formation, and means for pressing the units into their respective places in the spiral face of the structure.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical casing mechanism for automatically laying bricks within the casing to form a structure and a rotary member mounted within the casing for propelling the machine by pressing against the structure as the same is formed.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a rotary member mounted in the casing, a stationary form, mechanism for laying bricks between the said cylindrical form and the said rotary member to build a structure, and means for operating the same.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination of a casing, a rotary member mounted in the casing, said rotary member having a spiral cam face, mechanism for forming a stationary strucand means for rotating the rotary member to propel the casing.

8. In a machine of the character described the combination of a stationary form having a spiral face, mechanism for laying bricks in front of said form to build astructure having a spiral face, a rotary member having a spiral face adapted to press against the spiral face of the structure, and propel the machine; and means for rotating the rotary member.

9. In a machine of the character described the combination of a stationary form having a spiral face presenting alternate projections and spaces, mechanism for successively inserting bricks between the projections of said form to build a circular structure and for inserting bricks between the projecting bricks of the structure after one row of bricks has been laid against said stationary form and means for operating the said mechanism.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for building a circular structure by laying bricks successively, a stationary starting form against which the first row of bricks is laid, said starting form having alternate projections and spaces formed upon its face against which the bricks are laid, and said projections upon the form being located in advance of each other to present a spiral surface against which the bricks are laid.

11. In a machine of the character clescribed the combination of a cylindrical casing, mechanism for automatically laying bricks to form a structure within the casing and means for applying plastic material around the bricks as they are laid.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical casing, mechanism for automatically laying bricks to form a structure of smaller diameter than said casing and means for inserting hardening plastic material between the brick structure and the said casing.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outer casing, an inner casing for supporting the structure to be formed, a rotary conveyer for ,distributing bricks around the structure and a rotary cam member adapted to force the bricks into place against said structure.

14. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of an outer casing, an inner casing for supporting the structure to be formed of bricks, a rotary conveyer for distributing the bricks around the structure,

a rotary member having a cam surface, and said rotary member having a low place formed in the cam surface for the insertion of a brick between the cam surface of the rotary member and the said structure.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outer casing, an inner casing for supporting a structure to be formed, a rotary conveyer for distributing bricks around the structure, said conveyer having a pocket formed therein to receive a brick, a cylindrical member having an opening formed therein to receive the brick from the rotary conveyer, and means for forcing the brick from the rotary conveyer into the cylindrical member.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outer casing for supporting the structure to be formed, an inner casing, a rotary conveyer for distributing bricks around the structure, said rotary conveyer having a pocket formed therein, to receive a brick from the rotary conveyer, a cylindrical member adapted to receive the brick, and a cam surfaceformed upon the rotary conveyer adjacent to the said pocket formed therein to force the brick from the conveyer into the cylindrical member.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotary cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member mounted within the casing, a rotary conveyer mounted within the cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having an opening formed in its surface adjacent to the conveyer adapted to receive a brick, and a projection forming a stop upon the cylindrical member to engage a brick in the rotary conveyer and direct the brick through the opening formed in the, cylindrical member.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotary cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member mounted within the casing, a rotary conveyer mounted within said cylindrical member, said rotary conveyer having an annular groove formed therein, a projection forming a stop upon the cylindrical member extending into the groove of the rotary conveyer, said rotary conveyer having a pocket formed therein to receive a brick and means for discharging the brick from the said pocket of the rotary conveyer into the cylindrical member when thebrick strikes the said projection upon the cylindrical member.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a ey lindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member mounted within the casing, said cylindrical member having an inner cylindrical surface with an opening formed through the same for the passage of a brick, a projection upjon the cylindrical member forming a stop adjacent to the said opening, a rotary conveyer having a pocket formed therein to carry a brick, a plate hinged upon the rotary from the said pocket of the rotary conveyer I through the said opening formed in the cylindrical member. 1

20. In a machine of the character de- I scribed, the combination of a casing, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, a guide ring secured in the casing, a rotary conveyer mounted in the guide ring, an opening formed in the guide ring for the entrance of a brick and said rotary conveyer having a pocket formed therein to receive the brick, and means for forcing the brick from the rotary conveyer into the cylindrical member.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, a guide ring secured in the casing, a rotary conveyer having a pocket formed therein to receive a brick, said guide ring having an opening formed therein through which the brick {may enter the rotary conveyer, a stop mounted upon the guide ring to direct the brick into the pocket of the rotary conveyer, and means for forcing the brick from the rotary conveyer into the cylindrical member.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured in the casing, a cylindrical member .around which the structure is to be I lar groove formed in the outer surface thereof, a projection upon the cylindrical member extending into the groove formed in the said conveyer, said conveyer having an opening formed through the same forming a pocket to receive a brick, a stop plate mounted upon the guide ring to direct the brick into the pocket formed in the said conveyer and means foradvancing the position of the stop plate when the said projection upon the cylindrical member is in a position within the said pocket of the conveyer which would prevent the brick entering the pocket in the conveyer, and thus permit the brick to advance beyond the said projection of the cylindrical member and enter the pocket of the conveyer.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured therein, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed mounted within the casing, a rotary conto receive a brick, a stop plate mounted upon the guide ring to direct the brick into the pocket formed in the said conveyer, a bearing upon the guide ring in which the stop plate is slidably mounted, a rack upon the stop plate, a gear wheel engaging the stop, agear wheel located adjacent to the said cylindrical member, a shaft connecting said gear wheels, a rack upon the cylindrical member located adjacent to the said projection thereon, said rack adapted to engage said last mentioned gear wheel and move the stop plate into an advanced position to allow the brick to enter the pocket of the conveyer in advance of the said projection, a second rack upon the cylindrical member, a gear wheel located in the path of said second rack and connections between the last mentioned gear wheel and the stop plate to return the latter to its normal position, when the projection on the cylindrical member has been moved out of the pocket of the conveyer.

2i. In a machine of the character described. the combination of a casing, acylindrical member around which the surface is to be formed, a guide ring secured in the casing. a rotary conveyer mounted in the guide ring for feeding a brick into the cylindrical member, said guide ring having an opening formed therein to receive a brick, a conveyer chain, means upon the chain for carrying a brick, and means for discharging the brick from the conveyer chain on to the said guide ring.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured within the casing, a rotary conveyer mounted within the guide ring, a cylindrical memberaround which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member rotatably mounted between the rotary conveyer and the casing, anti-friction rollers interposed between the said movable parts, and means for operating the said rotary conveyer and the cylindrical member, to lay bricks in the said structure.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured within the casing, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member rotatably mounted within the guide ring, a rotary conveyer mounted within the guide ring, means for imparting a continuous rotary motion to the conveyer and means for imparting an intermittent motion to the cylindrical member.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured in the casing, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, a rotary conveyer mounted within the casing, gear teeth formed upon the rotary conveyer, a gear wheel engaging said gear teeth and means for driving said gear wheel, to rotate the conveyer and feed bricks into the cylindrical member.

28. In a machine of the character clescribed, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured within the casing, a rotary conveyer within the guide ring, a cylindrical member around which the structure is to be formed, said cylindrical member rotatably mounted between the said conveyer and the casing, a gear ring loosely mounted within the guide ring, a gear wheel engaging the gear ring for rotating the same, and means for locking the said cylindrical member to the gear ring to rotate the cylindrical member.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured within the casing, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted withinthe guide ring, a gear ring loosely mounted within the guide ring, a gear wheel engaging the gear ring for rotating the same, a hinged plate upon the cylindrical member adapted to be engaged by the insertion of a brick into the cylindrical member and means controlled by the hinged plate for locking the gear ring and the cylindrical member together.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring, secured within the casing, a cylindrical member mounted within the guide ring, a gear ring loosely mounted within the guide ring. a gear wheel for engaging the gear ring. a hinged plate upon the cylindrical member adapted to be engaged by the insertion of a brick into the cylindrical member, said plate having means for locking the cylindrical member with the gear ring to rotate the cylindrical member, and an extension upon said hinged plate to hold against a brick and rotate the cylindrical member until it has moved into a position to receive another brick.

31. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted within the casing, a gear ring mounted adjacent to the cylindrical member, a gear wheel for continuously rotating the gear ring, teeth formed upon the surface of the gear ring, a movable dog mounted upon the cylindrical member for engaging the teeth in the gear ring, a cam to move said dog, a shaft carrying said cam, a shaft having a plate secured thereon, bevel gears connecting the said shafts, and a spring to normally hold said plate in a position to disconnect the dog members arranged between the said structure and the cam surface of the cylindrical member to reduce the friction between the stationary structure and the cylindrical member.

33. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a stationary structure formed within the casing, a cylindrical member having a cam surface, said cylindrical member rotatably mounted within the casing, carriages located between the said structure and the cam face of the cylindrical member, and anti-friction rollers between the carriages and the cam surface of the cylindrical member.

34. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a stationary structure formed within the casing, a cylindrical member having a cam surface, said cylindrical member rotatably mounted within the casing, an annular flange upon said cylindrical member, a series of antifriction carriages arranged between the cam surface of the cylindrical member and the said structure, a projection upon each carriage adapted to be engaged by the said flange for withdrawing the carriages from the surface of the said structure, to permit a brick to be inserted into the structure.

35. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a stationary structure formed within the casing, a guide ring secured within the casing, a c lindrical member mounted in the guide ring, anti-friction rollers between the guide ring and the cylindrical member, a cam surface formed upon the cylindrical member, an annular flange formed upon the cylindrical member located adjacent to a groove formed in the cylindrical member, antifriction members between the said structure and the cylindrical member, projections upon said anti-friction members adapted to enter the said groove in the cylindrical member, and an enlarged head upon said projections adapted to be engaged by the said flange to hold the anti-friction members adjacent to the cylindrical member.

36. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, mecha nism for forming a structure within the easing, a rotary cement carrier mounted within the casing between the said structure and the casing and means for discharging cement from the cement carrier to form a casing around the outside of the said structure.-

37. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism mounted within the easing, means for receiving plastic material at a point in front of the brick laying mechanism and for passing the material back to a point in the rear of the brick laying mechan1sm.

38. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a guide ring secured within said casing, a cylindrical drum secured to the guide ring forming an annular chamber within the said casing, a rotary cement carrier within the said chamber and brick laying mechanism located within the said guide ring.

39. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outer casing, a guide ring secured to the same, an inner casing secured to the guide ring, mechanism within the guide ring for forming a brick structure around the outside of the inner casing, a cylindrical drum secured upon the guide ring forming an annular chamber between the guide ring and the outer chamber, and means for forcing plastic material through said chamber to form a shell around the brick construction.

' 40. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rtary cement carrier mounted Within the casing, means for filling the cement carrier with plastic material and means for ejecting said material from the cement carrier.

41. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier mounted within the easing, and boxes formed in said carrier for receiving plastic material and for carrying the said material around with the rotary cement carrier.

42. In a machine of the character described, the combination of. a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier mounted Within the easing, cement boxes formed in said carrier, doors hinged upon the carrier adapted to close the entrance to' the cement boxes, and a cam secured in the casing adapted to engage said doors and operate the same.

43. In a machine of the character described, the combination. of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier mounted within the casing, boxes formed in said carrier, doors hinged upon the said carrier adjacent to the boxes, a projection upon each door, a funnel secured inthe casingga cam secured in the casing adapted to engage the projection upon the doors and open the said doors when they are adjacent to they funnel and hold the doors closed throughout the remainder of the revolution of the cement carrier.

44. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, bricklaying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier mounted in the casing, cement boxes formed in the said carrier, and plungers for ejecting the material from the boxes. 1

45. In a machine of the character de;

scribed, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, an annular gear ring having teeth formed thereon secured to the cement carrier, a gear wheel meshing with said gear ring and means for driving the said gear wheel to rotate the cement carrier.

46. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, an annular gear ring secured to the cement carrier, agear wheel meshing with the gear ring, a clutch and means for connecting the gear wheel with the clutch to operate the cement carrier intermittently.

47. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, an annular gear ring secured to the cement carrier, a gear wheel meshing with the gear ring, a clutch and a cam on the cement carrier'for controlling the clutch to stop and start the cement carmen 48. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in said carrier, plungers adapted to enter said boxes, means for intermittently operating the rotary carrier and means for operating the plungers when the rotary carrier is at rest.

49. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in said carrier, plungers adapted to enter' said boxes, cylinders for operating the plungers, and a valve for controlling pressure in the cylinders to operate the plungers.

50. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes the cement carrier, means for operating all the plungers simultaneously and means for operating each plunger successively.

51. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, a collar rotatably mounted, cams upon the collar to actuate the plungers.

52. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, valves to control the plungers, a collar rotatably mounted, and cams upon the collar adapted to actuate all the valves and withdraw the plungers from the boxes simultaneously.

53. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, valves to control the plungers, levers upon the valves, a spring on each lever to actuate the valves and move the plungers into the boxes, a collar rotatably mounted, and cams upon the collar adapted to actuate the valve levers simultaneously and withdraw the plungers.

54. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, valves to control the plungers, levers upon the valves, a collar rotatably mounted, cams upon the collar adapted to engage the valve levers simultaneously, a second collar rotatably mounted, and a cam on said last mentioned collar adapted to actuate the valve levers successively.

55. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, valves to control the plungers, an annular bearing secured in the casing, a collar loosely mounted on said bearing, cams upon said collar to actuate the valves, a second collar rotatably mounted, means for rotating said second collar, a dog for locking said collars together and anannular cam upon the said bearing for withdrawing the dog from engagement with one of the collars.

56. In a machine ct-the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to "enter the boxes in the cement carri valves to control the plungers, an annu ar bearing secured in the casing, a cam collar for actuating the valves loosely mounted upon said bearing, a secondcollar, means for rotating the said second collar, a dog for locking said collars together, a cam for disconnecting said collars by withdrawing the dog and a lever actuated by one of the said plungers for connecting said collars by moving the dog into engagement with said collars.

57. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, brick laying mechanism within the casing, a rotary cement carrier, boxes formed in the cement carrier, cylinders secured in the casing, plungers controlled by the cylinders adapted to enter the boxes in the cement carrier, valves to control the plungers, a cam collar rotatably mounted adapted to actuate the valves, a clutch shaft, means for rotating said clutch shaft, a clutch sleeve slidably secured to said shaft, driving mechanism operated by the clutch sleeve for rotating the cement carrier, driving mechanism for rotating the cam collar for actuating the valves, cams upon the cam collar to actuate the clutch sleeve to rotate the cement carrier, and a cam upon the cement carrier adapted to shift the clutch sleeve to rotate the cam collar and disconnect the clutch from the cement collar driving mechanism.

58. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, bearings .secured in the casing, longitudinal frame members secured to said bearings, a guide ring carried by said frame members, an inner casing secured to the guide ring, mechanism for distributing bricks around the inner casing to form a structure and means for operating said mechanism.

59. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, bearings secured in the casing, longitudinal frame members secured to the bearings, a guide ring secured to the said frame members, an inner casing secured to the guide ring, brick laying mechanism for forming a structure, a rotary member having a cam face adapted to press against the structure as it is formed, and propel the machine, and means for rotating the rotary member and the brick laying mechanism.

60. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, bearings secured in the casing, longitudinal frame members secured to the bearings, a collar rotatably mounted in the forward bearing, arms upon the collar, cutting blades upon the arms, means for rotating the said collar, buckets rotatably mounted upon the forward bearing, a conveyer,,buckets upon the conveyer, and brick laying mechanism Within the casing for building a structure.

61. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, bearings secured in the casing, frame members secured to the bearings, rotary cutting blades mounted in the forward bearing, brick laying mechanism mounted upon said frame members, a rotary cement carrier mounted within the casing, plungers for forcing the material from therotary cement carrier around the structure formed by the brick laying mechanism, a conveyer for supplying bricks to the brick laying mechanism and for supplying material to the cement carrier and means for operating the machine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MILTON ROY SHEEN.

Witnesses: 1 I

' ROBERT M. WALLACE, EARL SHAFFEB. 

